Bandai Namco revealed the main cast of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, providing some rather detailed descriptions.
You can read the descriptions for all of them below:
Jan Cope
Commander-rank officer and leader of Joker Flight. He was given the single sign “Wings of Theve”—a legendary ace, and a symbol of hope for the capital of FCU. However, that legend was not real.
Due to his exceptional piloting skills, especially his masterful evasive maneuvers, he was selected for the manufactured ace project.
In his downtime, he was known as an inveterate gambler. Although he sometimes failed to pay his debts, he remained well liked thanks to his sociable charm and charisma.
Ellington Baxter
Lieutenant Commander, Joker Flight’s No. 2, and the calm hand that holds the rest of them together. Highly knowledgeable and considerate, Baxter once served as a university lecturer, though he has never revealed his field.
Tasha calls him “Teach,” and the two of them can often be found studying together in the mess.
Tasha Severskaya
Ensign, Joker Flight No. 3.
Originally a star pilot in Yuktobania’s acrobatic team, Zvezda, Tasha was on the Endurance to shoot publicity footage when war broke out and ended up staying on the ship.
William Coster
Lieutenant Junior Grade, Joker Flight No. 4.
A skilled wingman capable of keeping up with Tasha’s extreme maneuvers and providing effective cover.
A diehard rock music fan, Coster brings a compact music player into the cockpit to listen to during missions.
Kate Evans
Lieutenant Commander and leader of Queen Flight, the carrier’s other flight.
Cool and collected, she does everything in her power to protect the lives of pilots in both flights, and she is also an excellent pilot in her own right.
The bandages that she constantly wears speak of the harsh battles she fights, but she never lets the strain show; instead, she buries her own fears and presents a positive attitude to those under her command.
Jessica Pike
Military Captain and XO of the carrier Endurance. Oversees all carrier operations in place of the easygoing Captain Gordon.
A pragmatist to the core, she was willing to recruit anyone available, including civilians, to keep the carrier operational in the face of desperate personnel shortages.
David Jenkins
Major and chief mechanic aboard the Endurance. A former Air Force maintenance officer rescued from a lifeboat, he began the war at a base in eastern FCU, but joined the retreat westward as the front collapsed.
He has extensive knowledge of Sotoan capabilities thanks to his experience on the sharp end of the fighting.
Adelina Santos
A strong‑willed doctor assigned to the carrier Endurance, with a rank of Highest‑Ranking Senior Private. Caring and supportive, she is well liked by the crew, though she herself seems unaware of it.
She is never afraid to voice her opinions about caring for the wounded, even to the XO.
Below you can find pictures of all the characters.
Speaking of pictures, we got the reveal that the character design was handled by Yusuke Kozaki, who also shared a message and a drawing of Tasha for the fellow fans of the series:
“It’s been about 25 years since I first played Ace Combat 3… This series has continued to color my sensitive youth right up to today. With utmost sincerity and a heartfelt desire to give back, I’m meticulously designing each character with care”
He’s known for the No More Heroes series, the AI: The Somnium Files series, Fire Emblem Fates, and more.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will release on October 2, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, following the announcement from a few months ago. If you want to see more, you can check out a developer diary, an action-packed trailer, and an extensive gameplay reveal.
It’s the latest installment of the popular Ace Combat franchise, which culminated a few years ago with Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, that has broken all sales records for the series by shipping over 7 million units, after a period in which it remained dormant.
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